Spraying device



Jan. 4, 1944. F. LOWENTl-[AL SPRAYING DEVICE Filed Nov. 11, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR FBd/ zowenlluzl/ A ATTORNEY Jan. 4, 1944. F. LQWENTHAL SPRAYING DEVI'CE Filed Nov. 11, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 INVENTOR Fred zowenlhab A RNEY Patented Jan. 4, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,338,650 I SPRAYING DEVICE Fred Lowenthal, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application November 11, 1942, Serial No. 465,224

2 Claims.

This invention relates to an apparatus for applying a coating of paint, lacquer or other liquid, by spraying, to lengthy strips of moulding, wooden or metal strips or other relatively lengthy articles, and the primary object of the invention is to provide means by which such articles may be efficiently, speedily and artistically coated without requiring skilled labor or extraordinary effort and time.

More particularly, the invention contemplates the provision of a relatively small enclosure or housing in which one or more adjustable spray nozzles are located, and in which feed means is employed to feed the lengthy moulding or other elongated articles progressively through the housing and past the nozzle or nozzles, whereby the articles may be coated with the spray emanating therefrom, said spray being wholly confined within the housing and that which does not impinge against the article being coated being captured in a collection receptacle for subsequent re-use.

At the present time, the coating or spraying of lengthy strips such as picture-frame moulding or the like, not only requires skilled spray-gun operators, but also spacious booths or chambers to accommodate strips of the length to be sprayed. Moreover, spraying by this known method results in considerable wastage of the paint or other coating fluid. The present invention contemplates not only the provision of a small spraying chamber, but also the capture or salvage of excess spraying fluid, and the provision of one or more spray nozzles located in fixed position during spraying and past which the length strips are progressively moved by the feeding means. The arrangement is such that as the strips to be coated are fed through the spraying chamber they are coated by the liquid spray emanating from the spray nozzle, and excess paint is collected in a suitably placed collection receptacle.

Another object of the invention consists in the provision of means by which the nozzles may be adjusted relatively to the strip to be coated whereby novel effects on the strip may be secured without the employment of masking means for the strip.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, Fig. l is a plan View, with parts in section, of the improved spraying apparatus; Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the housing, showing the adjustable spray nozzles, the collection receptacle and other elements of the apparatus; Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows, and Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating how a section of a certain type of moulding may be sprayed by adjustment of the position of one of the spray nozzles.

The articles adapted to be sprayed by the apparatus are lengthy sections of strip material, such as picture-frame moulding, rods, bars, tubes or the like, such elements usually being of such a length that they are often unwieldy and diflicult to handle and spray by the conventional methods. In the drawings, I have shown at l, a section of ornamental wooden moulding being sprayed. At 2 is shown a table or other support, mounted on the legs 3 forming part of a supporting frame for the table. The table is of such length that it accommodates the moulding strips to be sprayed. At 4 is shown the spraying chamber consisting of a relatively small housing as compared to the length of the strips to be sprayed. The housing may be composed of sheet metal or the like, reinl'orced by angle bars 5. In the operation of the apparatus the strips to be sprayed are fed from the table 2 into the housing 4 wherein one or more spray nozzles, such as is shown at 6 and 1, direct a spray against the strip as it passes these nozzles to thereby coat the strip.

The feeding means for the strip is shown at the right in Figs. 1 and 2. and it will be there seem that the same consists of a pair of co-operating rolls 8 and 9 between which the strip is either manually or automatically fed, and which move the strip toward the left and through an entrance opening I0 in the side wall H of the housing. The lower roll 9 is a driven roll, the same being secured on the shaft l2 mounted in the bearings 13 and I4 and extending out of the gear box l5 containing reducing gearing. The gearing in the box [5 is driven by the shaft 16 of electric motor I! supported on a shelf portion 18 mounted on the frame 3.

The driven roller 9 is operative through a slot I 9 in the table 2 and is provided with a flange 2B constituting an abutment against which the strip I rests while being fed by the rolls 8 and 9 in the direction of the arrow at the right of Fig. 1. The upper roll 8 has its periphery provided with a facing 2! for frictionally engaging the irregular surface of the moulding I, said roll being held with resilient pressure against the strip by means of the coil spring 22, having its lower end attached at 23 to bearing I i, and its upper end attached to the pin 24 projecting from one of the arms of the yoke 25, pivotally mounted at 26 in the upstanding lugs 21. Guides 28 and 29 secured is engaged by the feed rolls 8 and 9 and fed between the same endwisely through the entrance opening I and into the spray chamber or housing 4 and below the spray nozzles 6 and 1 thereby receiving a coating from the same. The spray nozzles are each connected by flexible tubing 33 to a suitable source of liquid paint or other coating material under pressure so that as the spray emanates from the nozzles it passes over the surface of the moulding strip that is passing below the nozzles. The excess spray passing the strip is directed into a collection receptacle or tray 34 located within the housing 4 and angularly supported on the cross members 36 and 35, the member 35 being located on the bottom 31 of the housing. The collection receptacle or tray 34 is removable out of the front of the housing so that its contents may be poured out and re-used.

Means is provided for adjusting the nozzles 6 and 1 relative to the strip being coated. For example, the nozzle 6 is mounted on a rod 38, on which it may be rotatively adjusted and then fixed in any selected position by means of the set screw 55. Rod 38 is secured at one end in a head 45, supported on a horizontally disposed rod 4|, the head 49 being both pivotally and horizontally adjustable along the length of the rod 4| and fixed in any position along the same by means of the set screw 42. At one end, the rod 4| carries a clamp 43 which can be positioned at any desired height along the length of the angle bar at the front corner of the housing. The screws 44 attach the clamp 43 to the angle bar 5, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

The lower nozzle I is rotatably adjustable on a rod 45 and can be set thereon at any desired position of angularity with respect to the work I by means of the set screw 45. Rod 45 carries a clamp 41 similar to that shown at 43 and by which it is adjustably attached to the angle bar 5.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the nozzles can be adjusted angularly as well as raised, lowered and moved transversely of the housing to position them wherever required. The importance of this high degree of adjustability of the nozzles will be apparent from the diagrammatic view of Fig. 5 wherein it will be seen how certain forms of moulding can have their raised surfaces, such as shown at 58) and 55, as well as at least one of their edges 52, coated or painted by a spray, leaving recessed portions, such as the groove 52a, free from the coating, so that a pleasing, and ornamental striped effect is attained solely by the spraying.

It will thus be clear that as the strip to be coated is fed by the feed rolls 8 and 9, it will pass below the nozzles 5 and l and between these nozzles and the collection receptacle or tray 34 and receive a coating from the nozzles. As the end of the strip nears the wall 53 of the housing, in which the egress opening 54 is provided, it will ride upon the supporting shelf 55 and be moved therefrom through the opening 54 and out of the housing and upon the table 56 from whence it is taken away either manually or by suitable automatic means. The housing 4 is provided with an outlet 51 in which a suitable exhaust fan 58 is operative to remove the fumes from the interior of the housing,

Briefly, the operation of the apparatus is as follows:

Strips to be coated are successively fed between the feed rolls 8 and 9 which feed the strips through the entrance opening l0 and into the housing 4. As each strip passes below the nozzles, it is coated by the spray emanating therefrom, and the strip, moving continuously, passes out of the housing through the outlet 54 to reach the top of the table 56 from whence it is removed either manually or by automatic removal means. One or more nozzles may be employed within the housing, and said nozzles may be angularly or otherwise adjusted relative to the moving strip so that many novel effects may be secured according to the structural shape of the moulding and its presentation to the nozzles. The operation of coating the strips is substantially continuous since the strips are fed one after another without interruption so that the coating is applied speedily, eiiectively and uniformly.

What I claim is:

1. In an apparatus for spraying lengthy strips of moulding and the like, a housing having a front opening, a frame surrounding said opening and including a vertical side bar, nozzle supports clamped to said side bar and vertically adjustable thereon, rods on said nozzle supports, spray nozzles horizontally and angularly adjustable on said rods to direct spray downwardly and angularly within the housing, the housing having a side entrance opening, upper and lower feed rolls located adjacent to said entrance opening outside of the housing for feeding a strip of moulding through the entrance opening and past the nozzles, one of the walls of the housing having an outlet through which the sprayed moulding is moved, a fixed shelf within the housing adjacent to the outlet opening for supporting the moulding as it is moved through said outlet opening solely by the action of the two feed rolls, one of said rolls being a driven roll and the other roll being #spring-pressed toward the driven roll, one of the rolls being flanged and the other having a non-slip facing,

2. An apparatus as provided for in claim 1 wherein the flanged roll is the driven roll, a table having an opening through which a portion of said flanged roll is operative, guide members on said table adjacent said portion of the roll,

said guide members'defining a path of move-- catch-receptacle within the housing below thespray nozzles.

FRED LOWENTHAL. 

